The effects of seeing on Sersic profiles

Abstract

The effects of seeing on the parameters of the Sèrsic profile are studied in an analytical form using a Gaussian point spread function. The surface brightness of Sèrsic profiles is proportional (in magnitudes) to $r^{1/n}$. The parameter $n$ serves to classify the type of profile and is related to the central luminosity concentration. It is the parameter most affected by seeing; furthermore, the value of $n$ that can be measured is always smaller than the real one. It is shown that the luminosity density of the Sèrsic profile with $n$ less than 0.5 has a central depression, which is physically unlikely. Also, the intrinsic ellipticity of the sources has been taken into account and we show that the parameters are dependent when the effects of seeing are non-negligible. Finally, a prescription for correcting raw effective radii, central intensities and $n$ parameters is given.